SPECIALTY INFO REQUEST

nancyh · Sep 16, 2000

Hi, This reply is a few months late from when you sent your initial request, but better late then never. Nurse Midwves are responsible for providing care to women during the entire health-illness continum from annual gynocological exams, to antipartal, intrap[artal, and postpartal periods as well as neonatal assessments. '

Education can be achieved a couple of ways. 1) get a MS in Midwifery after your bacholors degree. 2) get a certification. This only takes a year, and you have the title of Certified Nurse Midwife, but you do not have a Masters Degree. For a complete list off all Midwife Programs in the country go to the American College of Nurse Midifery website (www.ACNM.com) They also have a small list of employment opportunities.

Midwives have always been here, but they are growing in popularity for a few reasons right now. 1) they now have prescriptive rights. 2) they are replacing a lot of Doctors, because they caNDO THE JOB FOR A LOT LESS/. 3) They are no longer restricted to home deliveries. Many hospitals give CNM's delivery rights . the salary for a beginnig midwife with a MS is about 60,000-100,000 first year out.

hope this is helpful

nancyh

kennedyj · May 22, 2001

Job duties seem to be limitless anymore: We can do prenatal care througout the pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum care, some infant knowledge and care is needed but is usually provided by a peds or infant team. Many also care for high risk patients co-managing it with OB physicians- referring or getting advice when needed. We do not do C-sections or surgery (this is what separates midwives from the docs). We can do episiotomies and sew up the perineum even in large tears where the rectum is torn. We can first assist the surgeon in surgery and close up the incisions in some cases. We have a prescriptive authority to give prescription medications. Ultrasound can be performed if trained in this area. Midwives can in some states become certified in using forceps but if not can use a vacuum to facilitate delivery when emergent.

Salaries vary $55,000 - $100,000.

Crazy hours as you can expect.

Some do homebirths but I'm not really crazy about this idea and will probably never do one although many argue it is as safe as in a hospital.

hope this helps,

Jared

fergus51 · May 22, 2001

While we're on the topic, can any of you tell me what the benefit of getting the Masters is as opposed to the certificate? Do a lot of states require the Masters?

jamistlc · May 22, 2001

Greetings All Nurses,

There are other routes into Midwifery and in many states these other routes have the same level of competence, skills, and authority. What I am talking about is Direct Entry Midwifery with a national certification from http://www.MANA.org This is the title known as CPM Certified Professional Midwife! For much more information might I sugest visiting this site http://www.Midwifeinfo.com

Best of luck in your search for a career pathway!

Peace,

Have a Blessed Day,

Jami

jamistlc · Jun 3, 2001

Heres is another link at http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/columbusmidwifesanddoulas

kennedyj · Jul 31, 2001

Furgus51,

Most states several years ago have pulled there certificate programs in Advanced practice nursing. There used to be a certificate in NNP, Family Nurse practitioner etc. There is still a certificate program available or Non masters program in Midwifery probably due to the long standing tradition of homebirth midwives and there ability to stand together politically.

Many states only allow Masters level Midwives to practice. Some states allow Certified midwives to perform homebirths in simple natural settings with limited medical interventions and pain control. I have heard that sometimes a normal patient load may be sometimes 5-10 homebirths a year. Many hospitals do not hire Masters level midwives and use only Physician's. I don't know of any hospital settings that hire CPM's.

J